Imagined Tomorrow

About Imagined Tomorrow

Imagined Tomorrow explores weird, fun, scary future scenarios for India. Futures that might become a reality when science and tech try to solve problems within India's unique contexts. Wondering what if an asteroid was headed towards India? Can we pick a climate-safe home? What if we had AI judges in our courts? Join us, as we dig into these thought experiments, with a little bit of speculation and a whole lot of science – all imagined from an Indian point of view. Imagined Tomorrow is an independently created, non-commercial, speculative-journalism podcast.

Publisher

Shreya Dasgupta

Category

science

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Jun 2021

Latest episode

21 Mar 2023

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Mar 2023

   S2E10 A British Blunder in Bengal: When climate warnings were ignored [Part-3 of climate mini-series]

   In the third and last part of our climate and homes mini-series, we’re bringing you a story from the historical archives. A story from the 1800s, about a time when the British came up with a grand plan in Bengal. And a climate warning they did not pay heed to. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by ⁠Abhijit Shylanath⁠ (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Draft edits by ⁠Abhishek Madan⁠ (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Thanks to Nihira Ram for her help with the research and writing. Get in touch via Twitter or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Transcript | References | Sound Credits: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTakw_CRl0LEA5yyJjkKozJfr7PEzI_ZU4ropFD8mE97httunYS3clcITuQ5pUY7Gk21VYei5Zv812B/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTakw_CRl0LEA5yyJjkKozJfr7PEzI_ZU4ropFD8mE97httunYS3clcITuQ5pUY7Gk21VYei5Zv812B/pub)

2. 

   15 Mar 2023

   S2E9 How to climate-proof your home [Part-2 of climate mini-series]

   In this episode, we’re taking on a future you may not be able to choose and move to a climate safe location. Maybe it's a job you can't leave, or you can't afford to move, or there aren't many climate safe locations to pick from. How can you then keep your home, your neighbourhood safe from climate impacts? This is Part-2 of a 3-Part Climate mini-series. In this, experts take us through how an Indian city is learning to deal with climate extremes and poor city planning; and how current and future homes and neighbourhoods can be reimagined for future climate. Experts we spoke to for this episode (in order of appearance): Gopikrishna Warrier (https://twitter.com/gopiwarrier?lang=en), managing editor at Mongabay India. Rajesh Kumar Chauhan, building contractor. Dr. Siddharth Singh (https://twitter.com/siddharth3), author of The Great Smog of India, which is a book on India’s air pollution crisis, and a researcher of energy transitions and climate action. Dr. Harini Nagendra (https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/people/harini-nagendra), an ecologist who leads Azim Premji University's Center for Climate Change and Sustainability. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Draft edits by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Thanks to Parvathy Nair, Parni Ray and Nihira Ram for their help. Get in touch via Twitter or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR7vj2zUx9kSrGf1iAHXBgDKdHN0PakBajQslx3wI9Oib7PKewZAGSOLN623BpYSVYNZ5r9ZngpD3zE/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR7vj2zUx9kSrGf1iAHXBgDKdHN0PakBajQslx3wI9Oib7PKewZAGSOLN623BpYSVYNZ5r9ZngpD3zE/pub)

3. 

   8 Mar 2023

   S2E8 Can you pick a climate-safe home? [Part-1 of climate mini-series]

   How do you pick a home in a location that's safe from the unpredictable effects of climate change? Can scientists tell us what climate impacts each neighbourhood in an Indian city will see? In this episode, experts take us through what it would take to make hyper-local climate forecasts for city neighbourhoods, so you can choose a climate safe location to live in. We also see what we already know about future impacts and what we can do in the absence of forecast data. This is Part-1 of a Three-Part Climate mini-series. Experts we spoke to for this episode (in order of appearance): Sandhya Ramesh (https://twitter.com/sandygrains), Science Editor at The Print. Dr. Roxy Mathew Koll (https://www.tropmet.res.in/85-Roxy%20Mathew%20Koll-scientist_detail), a Climate Scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology Dr. Indu Murthy (https://cstep.in/drupal/node/884), head of the Climate Environment and Sustainability sector at the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy, a research-based policy think tank in Bangalore. Dr. Siddharth Singh (https://twitter.com/siddharth3), author of The Great Smog of India, which is a book on India’s air pollution crisis, and a researcher of energy transitions and climate action. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Draft edits by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Abhishek and Abhijit voiced the characters in the fictional phone call. Thanks to Parvathy Nair, Parni Ray and Nihira Ram for their help. Get in touch via Twitter or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vSbqIyYwSLpSVYKY1w0ru4PH4mjke-NsrCL4KV06neek9jkFds-xBi5vy14lEGqn7ATlsFw4_9VbrRJ/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vSbqIyYwSLpSVYKY1w0ru4PH4mjke-NsrCL4KV06neek9jkFds-xBi5vy14lEGqn7ATlsFw4_9VbrRJ/pub ) Disclaimer: The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in the fictional story of S2E8 of Imagined Tomorrow are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

4. 

   28 Feb 2023

   S2E7 Can we see Jury Trials in India again? | Short

   In the last episode, we explored what if Indian courts used Artificial Intelligence or AI. This episode, we flip this, and ask - What if we got more people into our courts, and got jury trials back? Can it work, or is it a bad idea? Rohin Bhatt, a human rights lawyer and bioethicist, helps us through this thought experiment. We cover two things: A bit of history to see what jury trials looked like in India in the past. And then, we find out why jury trials may, or may not, work in India. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Script edits, re-listens by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Research help by Parvathy Nair. Get in touch with us at imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com (mailto:imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com). You can also follow us on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@imaginedtomorrow). Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTNWxZcYJI_HCVsBuXzbM1hhhnnYxTZzbqXxg6_VNsQt4mIA7TKLCM_HfIMGrSt5ES0WOIIObhktpE6/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTNWxZcYJI_HCVsBuXzbM1hhhnnYxTZzbqXxg6_VNsQt4mIA7TKLCM_HfIMGrSt5ES0WOIIObhktpE6/pub)

5. 

   22 Feb 2023

   S2E6 What if Indian courts used AI?

   Indian courts are tricky to navigate - after all it's all humans handling the endless sea of rules, procedures and formalities. Humans who can be intelligent and compassionate. Also, humans who can be slow, and prone to mistakes and biases. But what if there was artificial intelligence (AI) to help out? In this episode, we find out: What can AI do for the Indian judiciary and what should it not? How easy would it be to have an AI-powered legal future? And what are some things we should be wary about? Experts we spoke to for the episode: Ameen Jauhar (https://vidhilegalpolicy.in/team/ameen-jauhar/), a Senior Resident Fellow at the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy. Dr. Saptarshi Ghosh (https://sites.google.com/site/saptarshighosh/home), Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur Gautam Bhatia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautam_Bhatia_(lawyer)), a constitutional lawyer and a science fiction writer and editor. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Draft edits by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Shivalika and Abhijit voiced the characters in the fictional phone call. Parvathy Nair helped with the fiction piece and the research. Nihira Ram helped with the production. Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Have a question for us about how we make the episodes? Write to us, and we will answer them in our final episode of this season. Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSUzJ5Uu1ZVhELvct7HgEqRIFwR02TT9OqtcZYwrgP3gYukXyAIIal-EoiPoI2ypUxYwyrClHQTOMrC/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSUzJ5Uu1ZVhELvct7HgEqRIFwR02TT9OqtcZYwrgP3gYukXyAIIal-EoiPoI2ypUxYwyrClHQTOMrC/pub) Disclaimer: The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in the fictional story of S2E6 of Imagined Tomorrow are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

6. 

   15 Feb 2023

   S2E5 What if we lived inside Clean Air Domes?

   This episode, we take on a thought experiment — The air outside is getting so polluted that people in Indian cities start living inside clean air domes. What would these clean air domes look like? Where would we build them? And who gets to live inside these domes? Experts we spoke to for the episode: Dr. Rohit Negi (https://aud.ac.in/faculty/dr-rohit-negi), an associate professor at Ambedkar University, Delhi. Dr. Pallavi Pant (https://twitter.com/pallavipnt?lang=en), Air quality scientists based in Boston. Mr. Jai Dhar Gupta (https://twitter.com/jai_dhar), clean air activist and entrepreneur. Mr. Rajat Sodhi (https://orproject.com/about/ ), architect and founder of the Bubbles Project. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Draft edits by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Shivalika and Abhijit voiced the characters in the fictional ad. Parni Ray co-wrote the fiction piece and helped with the research. Parvathy Nair supported the production process. Get in touch via Twitter, or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Have a question for us about how we make the episodes? Write to us, and we will answer them in our final episode of this season. Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQfv7RE6gFgathHMJOtqW2poxu7ndvN7iEQad6G-DtcsjnpDsCPUyWPwPtR02JGsmCzVV4iIH1pIuyu/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQfv7RE6gFgathHMJOtqW2poxu7ndvN7iEQad6G-DtcsjnpDsCPUyWPwPtR02JGsmCzVV4iIH1pIuyu/pub) Disclaimer: The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in the fictional story of S2E5 of Imagined Tomorrow are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

7. 

   7 Feb 2023

   S2E4 Can poop save India's wildlife | Short

   Animal poop: you want to step over it, but many scientists in India bow to it, sniff it, take detailed photos, and bring some of it home (okay fine, to their labs). Welcome to the world of animal poop surveillance. In this episode, we talk to wildlife scientist, Dr. Arjun Srivathsa, who tells us why researchers like him in India are so passionate about animal excretion. And how poop can help save India's threatened species. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Script edits, re-listens by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Get in touch with us at imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com (mailto:imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com). You can also follow us on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@imaginedtomorrow). Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRSV_w03LQgMwNG6GHspa8oQy4OR2E9crdAr_W9xkM2khWcdf1bnSkeML82XiytYUoRhNv1rVLzC8bL/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRSV_w03LQgMwNG6GHspa8oQy4OR2E9crdAr_W9xkM2khWcdf1bnSkeML82XiytYUoRhNv1rVLzC8bL/pub)

8. 

   31 Jan 2023

   S2E3: Welcome to poop surveillance

   You flush and forget about your poop. But your poop doesn’t forget you. It can be a goldmine of information about your body. This is why people around the world are increasingly monitoring what folks let out in sewage – to learn about entire communities and cities. Experts say, monitoring a city’s collective poop can keep us safe. It can also bring in some surprising perks to secure our future. So, we imagine a future where Indian cities have full-blown sewage surveillance systems. What secrets can sewage reveal about us? And are there things we should be wary about? Experts we spoke to: Dr. Varsha Sridhar (https://in.linkedin.com/in/varsha-shridhar-phd), a molecular biologist and the CEO of a company called Molecular Solutions Care Health. Dr. Farah Ishtiaq (https://tigs.res.in/people/scientists/farah-ishtiaq/), an evolutionary ecologist, and expert in infectious zoonotic diseases at the Tata Institute for Genetics and Society. Mr. S. Vishwanath (https://www.biome-solutions.com/about-us/), an urban planner, an expert in all things water, and the director of the Biome Environmental Trust. Dr. Deep Kumar Raman, a pathologist who answered several of my questions. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Script edits, re-listens by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Rahul Menon voiced Puneet, the fictional reporter, and Mathew Vetticad voiced Abhijeet, the fictional news anchor. Parni Ray, Parvathy Nair, and Nihira Ram supported the production process. Audiomatic (https://www.audiomatic.in/) helped us record the voiceovers for the fiction piece Get in touch with us at imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com (mailto:imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com). Follow Shreya on Twitter @ShreyaDasgupta (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta). Transcript | References | Sound credits: https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vRjjBTAgzi-JlIgPBRyh8wa8O60Og6Cl87Om57uV_piPJASXYrMAD6idaDSFC4nQjpmtJfl66krHr9n/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vRjjBTAgzi-JlIgPBRyh8wa8O60Og6Cl87Om57uV_piPJASXYrMAD6idaDSFC4nQjpmtJfl66krHr9n/pub) Disclaimer: The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in the fictional story of S2E3 of Imagined Tomorrow are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

9. 

   24 Jan 2023

   S2E2 Meteorite hunting in India | Short

   Last episode we asked, what if a killer asteroid was headed towards the India. This episode, we're exploring how people find bits of asteroids that do crash into India from time to time. And why go looking for meteorites at all - what's in it for us? This episode is an Imagined Tomorrow Short, where we take a detour to discuss an idea sparked by a future we previously explored. Experts we spoke to for the episode: Dr. Dwijesh Ray (https://www.prl.res.in/~dwijesh/), a planetary geologist at the physical research laboratory in Ahmedabad. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan) Coffee supply by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Email: imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com Transcript | References | Sound Credits: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6mGiR4-_TRp09Bxvshsts9RQCBbrbaqMUVJgOTvdFbDwFdv20ymqnAj_bTax2-w80UmSfKgZMumRD/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6mGiR4-_TRp09Bxvshsts9RQCBbrbaqMUVJgOTvdFbDwFdv20ymqnAj_bTax2-w80UmSfKgZMumRD/pub) Meteorites vs meteo'wrongs (http://meteorite.unm.edu/meteorites/meteorite-museum/how-id-meteorite/)' A short list of meteorites that have crashed into India in the recent past (https://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/metbull.php?sea=&sfor=names&ants=&nwas=&falls=&valids=&stype=contains&lrec=50&map=ge&browse=&country=India&srt=name&categ=All&mblist=All&rect=&phot=&strewn=&snew=0&pnt=Normal%20table&dr=&page=4)

10. 

    17 Jan 2023

    S2E1: What if a killer asteroid was headed towards India?

    Killer asteroids – we’ve seen Hollywood movies explore this apocalyptic scenario many, many times. In most films, though, India rarely features in the story. If we do, we come and go in seconds, with our cities ablaze, while the West saves the world. This episode explores a future where a big asteroid is hurtling toward India. If this were indeed the case, how would scientists know if an object from outer space was coming our way? Have asteroids struck the Indian region in the past? And if something does come speeding towards India in the future, can we do something about it? Experts we spoke to for the episode: Dr. Varun Bhalerao (https://www.phy.iitb.ac.in/en/content/varun-bhalerao), an astrophysicist at IIT Bombay. Dr. Dwijesh Ray (https://www.prl.res.in/~dwijesh/), a planetary geologist at the physical research laboratory in Ahmedabad. Dr. Angela Stickle (https://civspace.jhuapl.edu/people/angela-stickle), a planetary scientist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland, USA. Dr. Abhijeet Borkar (https://www.abhijeetborkar.com/), an astrophysicist at the Astronomický Ústav AV in Prague, Czech Republic. People who helped make this episode: Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Theme music, sound design and editing by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan) is the official reel-maker and feedback-provider. Nihira Ram co-wrote the fiction piece. Abhijit Shylanath voiced the fictional news reporter. Parni Ray and Parvathy Nair supported the production process in the initial months of uncertainty. Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. India-related pop culture: There's one Indian short film by Director Arati Kadav that's a love story set against the background of a space rock about to hit Earth. It's called 55 km per sec (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZHDiPt1vq8). Transcript and references: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSiUt9fzy34KqVFOL5DOyku5WldEUD2-B4nPhFcKCYkHbvJ8WrVPrWJr2Fym7QExfMSxU6_65zWSg-K/pub (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSiUt9fzy34KqVFOL5DOyku5WldEUD2-B4nPhFcKCYkHbvJ8WrVPrWJr2Fym7QExfMSxU6_65zWSg-K/pub) Disclaimer: The names, characters, and incidents portrayed in the fictional story of S2E1 of Imagined Tomorrow are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

11. 

    12 Jan 2023

    Introducing Imagined Tomorrow (Again)

    Imagined Tomorrow is back with a new season. This time with new thought experiments about the future explored from an Indian point of view.

12. 

    9 Nov 2021

    S1E7 Will Indian space tourists have internet?

    Show notes: In Episode 6, we explored if we could travel to space from India. In this bonus episode, we hear what the future of the internet could be like - in our solar system. Will we be able to watch Netflix on Mars, stream Youtube videos, chat with family and friends on Earth and livestream? Episode features Dr. Abhijeet Borkar (https://www.abhijeetborkar.com/about), an astrophysicist at the Astronomy Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan) is the official feedback-provider of script and sound. Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Episode music Interlude music bits from Pixabay. Includes pieces by nojisuma and ZakharValaha. Episode artwork Imagined Tomorrow logo by Abhishek Madan. If you want to delve further: How one stupid tweet blew up Justine Sacco’s Life. Read here (https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/15/magazine/how-one-stupid-tweet-ruined-justine-saccos-life.html) First live tweet (https://twitter.com/astro_tj/status/8062317551?lang=en) from space. NASA extends the World Wide Web out into space. Read here (https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jan/HQ_M10-012_ISS_Web.html) The internet in space? Slow as dial up. Read here (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/the-internet-in-space-slow-dial-up-lasers-satellites/395618/) NASA Laser Communications Innovations: A Timeline. Read here (https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-laser-communications-innovations-a-timeline) NASA Beams Mona Lisa to Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter at the Moon. Read here (https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/mona-lisa.html) Nokia selected by NASA to build first ever cellular network on the Moon. Read here (https://www.nokia.com/about-us/news/releases/2020/10/19/nokia-selected-by-nasa-to-build-first-ever-cellular-network-on-the-moon/) SpaceX will build Starlink-like constellation around Mars, its president says. Read here (https://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jan/HQ_M10-012_ISS_Web.html) Transcript on Imagined Tomorrow (https://www.imaginedtomorrow.com/post/s1-e7-bonus-space-internet-will-we-be-able-to-watch-netflix-on-mars)

13. 

    19 Oct 2021

    S1E6 Can we tour space from India?

    Show notes: In this episode, we imagine a future where you can travel to space from India. Whether you want to go around the earth for three days, walk on the Moon, or live on Mars for an artistic experiment - you can book a spaceflight from India and go where your heart (and wallet) takes you. We hear from some kids about how they picture this future. We hear from a space architect who tells us what commercial space travel might look like in the future for people in general and those in India. And a space lawyer tells us how we can travel responsibly. Also - stay till the end. There’s a surprise! Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan) is the official feedback-provider of script and sound. Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Transcript on https://www.imaginedtomorrow.com/ Guests (in order of appearance): Nikshep Raman, 11 year-old space sci-fi enthusiast. Priyoti, 9-year-old travel enthusiast. Dr. Susmita Mohanty, space architect and founder of India’s first private space company, Earth2Orbit. Deepika Jeyakodi, space lawyer. Brief appearance: Dr. Abhijeet Borkar, an astrophysicist who will hear from in the bonus episode. Episode music Interlude music bits from Pixabay. Includes pieces by GioeleFazzeri (https://pixabay.com/music/main-title-interstellar-adventure-space-theme-soundtrack-4494/), Jacques_Barrette (https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-espace-libre-mystere-intrigue-instrument-instruments-1050/), Lesfm (https://pixabay.com/music/ambient-deep-ambient-space-background-music-for-videos-5773/) and Skilsel (https://pixabay.com/music/corporate-news-corporate-8307/) Episode artwork From Pixabay by 愚木混株CDD20 (https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fantasy-night-ladder-universe-4063619/). If you want to delve further: Will space missions include more average people? Read here (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/newsletters/article/will-space-missions-include-more-average-people-20210915) SpaceX takes 4 passengers to orbit—a glimpse at private spaceflight’s future. Read here (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/spacex-takes-4-passengers-to-orbit-a-glimpse-at-private-spaceflights-future) Why We Need Astronauts With Disabilities. Read here (https://gizmodo.com/why-we-need-astronauts-with-disabilities-1847667167) Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSv0Y7qrzQM): Watch Elon Musk Reveal SpaceX's Most Detailed Plans To Colonize Mars NASA eyeing inflatable space lodges for moon, Mars and beyond. Read here (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-habitat-idUSKBN1WW1H2) India’s private space sector is rising, but wait for Bezos-like ‘joy rides’ will be longer. Read here (https://theprint.in/science/indias-private-space-sector-is-rising-but-wait-for-bezos-like-joy-rides-will-be-longer/739619/) From allowing private players, to regulating satellite use, why India needs a space law. Read here (https://www.firstpost.com/india/from-making-provisions-for-private-players-to-regulating-satellite-use-why-india-needs-a-new-space-law-10020521.html) Mission ISRO with Harsha Bhogle. Listen here (https://open.spotify.com/show/2JXFCMLGVhTBtdz1WYxd4H)

14. 

    13 Sept 2021

    S1E5 Post-antibiotic future with Dr. Hanan Balkhy of WHO

    Show notes: **This is a deep dive bonus content for episode 4. This episode gets very geeky, so if you haven’t already, please listen to episode 4 before moving ahead with this one :)** Antibiotic resistance is a problem of many countries and many bugs. So we hear from someone who has a bird’s eye view of this issue. Dr. Hanan Balkhy of the World Health Organisation. Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. The episode was co-edited by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Guests: Subject experts Dr. Hanan Balkhy, a professor of pediatric infection diseases and Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance at the World Health Organization Episode music Interlude music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi on Pixabay. Episode artwork Imagined Tomorrow logo by Abhishek Madan. For further reading: Superbug: The Fatal Menace of MRSA (Available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.in/Superbug-Fatal-Menace-Maryn-McKenna/dp/1416557288)) Scoping Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in India. Read here (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321421339_Scoping_Report_on_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_India). Science journalist Priyanka Pulla has written some excellent stories on antimicrobial resistance: · The superbugs of Hyderabad. Read here (https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-superbugs-of-hyderabad/article20536685.ece). · Living in a world of emerging microbial resistance. Read here (https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/new/%E2%80%A2%09https:/www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/living-in-a-world-of-emerging-microbial-resistance/article21339943.ece). · India’s Hospitals Have an Infection Problem. Could Accreditation Be the Way to Go? Read here (https://science.thewire.in/health/healthcare-acquired-infections-multi-drug-resistance-nabh-accreditation/). · The growing peril of drug-resistant superbugs. Read here (https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/new/%E2%80%A2%09https:/www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/the-growing-peril-of-drug-resistant-superbugs/story-RUGLv3Jv31Ha17reByBARL.html). · Explainer: Why Is Multi-Drug Resistance a Problem? Read here (https://anchor.fm/dashboard/episode/new/%E2%80%A2%09https:/science.thewire.in/health/explainer-multidrug-resistance-colistin-carbapenems-amr). · How India got blindsided by a deadly mucormycosis outbreak. Read here (https://www.livemint.com/science/health/blindsided-by-a-deadly-fungus-11626719755005.html). WHO’s Aware tool (https://aware.essentialmeds.org/groups) WHO’s priority bacteria list (https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2017-who-publishes-list-of-bacteria-for-which-new-antibiotics-are-urgently-needed).

15. 

    6 Sept 2021

    S1E4 How to avoid a post-antibiotic future

    Show notes: In this episode, we imagine a post-antibiotic future for India - where bacteria have learned to fight our entire arsenal of antibiotics. This future is rather dystopian, but don’t worry, we have experts who will tell us how we can avoid getting to this future. We hear of solutions for the social problems we need to crack, and we have an expert whose small company in Bangalore is developing a whole new class of antibiotics. Bonus episode coming soon! Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. The episode was co-edited by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Guests: Subject experts Dr. Jyoti Joshi (https://cddep.org/profile/jyoti-joshi-2/), a medical doctor and the South Asia head of the Center For Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy or CDDEP. Dr. Prashanth N. Srinivas (https://iphindia.org/about-us/team/prashanth-n-s/), a medical doctor and public health researcher at the Institute of Public Health, Bangalore. Dr. Anand Anandkumar (https://bugworksresearch.com/about-us/), CEO and MD of Bugworks, a Bangalore-based company that is developing a new class of antibiotics. Others Dumma (Maya Sengupta): My incredibly talented maternal grandmother, who tells me stories of her childhood, when she hadn’t even heard of antibiotics. Episode music Interlude music pieces by Alfred Castro (https://pixabay.com/music/solo-piano-forgotten-7248/), Oleksii Kaplunskyi (https://pixabay.com/music/build-up-scenes-epic-emotional-vibes-background-music-for-videos-5806/), Zakar Walaha (https://pixabay.com/music/action-action-epic-cinematic-victory-7195) on Pixabay. Episode artwork Image of a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Klebsiella_pneumoniae_Bacterium_(13383468143).jpg#/media/File:Klebsiella_pneumoniae_Bacterium_(13383468143).jpg) by NIAID (https://www.flickr.com/people/54591706@N02), used under CC By 2.0 license. For further reading: Scoping Report on Antimicrobial Resistance in India. Read here (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321421339_Scoping_Report_on_Antimicrobial_Resistance_in_India). More on Bugworks’ research (https://bugworksresearch.com/) Explainer: Why Is Multi-Drug Resistance a Problem? Read here (https://science.thewire.in/health/explainer-multidrug-resistance-colistin-carbapenems-amr/). Thumbs-up to pneumococcal vaccine rollout across India. Read here (https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2021/feb/02/thumbs-up-to-pneumococcalvaccine-rollout-across-india-2258292.html). Too much too often: Antibiotics in Indian crops can make them ineffective. Read here (https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/too-much-too-often-antibiotics-in-indian-crops-can-make-them-ineffective-67838).

16. 

    27 Jul 2021

    S1E3 What if Indian cities expanded underground?

    Show notes: In this episode, we imagine a future where some Indian cities expand underground. Population in our cities is at an all time high and there’s limited space to grow outwards. So city administrators decide to move downwards, below the land the city already has. Is it technically possible for Indian cities to expand underground? What can we move below our land surface? And would people even want to live or work there? Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. The episode was co-edited by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Guests: Subject experts Dr. R. K. Goel (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rk-Goel-2), an expert in Tunnel & Underground Space Design and a former professor at the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel research in Dhanbad. Dr. Sanjukkta Bhaduri (http://spa.ac.in/User_Panel/UserView.aspx?TypeID=1430), a professor of urban planning, in the School of Planning and architecture in New Delhi. Dr. Adam Charles Roberts (https://frs.ethz.ch/people/researchers/adam-charles-roberts.html), a human factors psychologist at Singapore-ETH centre. Disclaimer: Dr. Roberts’ research is supported by MND and NRF, Singapore. Findings and opinions expressed are those of the author’s alone. Others Saraswati and Chintan - People who work in the basement office of a housing complex, in order of appearance. Episode music Interlude music by Abhishek Madan, astrofreq (https://pixabay.com/users/astrofreq-19902647/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=2575), and lesfm (https://pixabay.com/users/lesfm-22579021/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=5642) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=5642). Episode artwork Image by allinonemovie (https://pixabay.com/users/allinonemovie-201131/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1106253) from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=1106253). For further reading: The underground mining town of Coober Pedy in Australia. Read this (https://www.cooberpedy.sa.gov.au/district-information/history) or this (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/coober-pedy). Indranil Banerjie's article on the opening of Kolkata's first underground metro stretch. Read here (https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19841215-despite-criticism-from-bengal-ministers-calcuttans-take-a-liking-for-metro-train-803488-1984-12-15). Singapore's plans of expanding underground. Read here (https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Plan-Our-Future-SG/Innovative-Urban-Solutions/Underground-space). Helsinki's underground master plan. Read here (https://www.hel.fi/helsinki/en/housing/planning/current/underground-master-plan#:~:text=A%20new%20underground%20master%20plan,the%20bedrock%20underneath%20the%20city.&text=Only%20the%20most%20important%20underground,in%20the%20underground%20master%20plan). Gjøvik, Norway's olympic cavern hall. Read here (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gj%C3%B8vik_Olympic_Cavern_Hall).

17. 

    29 Jun 2021

    S1E2 Can India completely switch to electric vehicles?

    Show notes: In this episode, we imagine a future where India has completely shifted to electric vehicles. Just charge your vehicle's battery and you're all set to go. Imagine never having to worry about rising petrol prices; and never having to inhale the toxic smoke that petrol and diesel cars, bikes and buses spew into the air. By emitting less carbon dioxide, you’re also helping the planet and securing your future. After all, electric vehicles are said to be the green transport of our future. What would it take for a country like India to get to this all-electric-vehicle future? And can this future be truly, truly green? Guests: Subject experts: Naveen Munjal (https://twitter.com/nmunjal?lang=en), the managing director of Hero Electric. Dr. Jai Asundi (https://www.cstep.in/team.php?id=1070), the executive director of the Centre for Study of science, technology and policy (CSTEP), a think tank based in Bangalore. Swagata Dey (https://twitter.com/swags_d?lang=en), a trained materials chemist and an environmental researcher, based in Delhi. People who drive or own electric vehicles, in order of appearance: Gauranga Biswas, an experienced driver who now drives a Tata Nexon EV. Abiramasundari, a chemistry researcher based in Ahmedabad. Has owned an e-scooter by Yo-Bikes since 2005. Sandhya Ramesh, science editor at the Print India. Owns and drives an e-scooter by Ather Energy since 2018. Rohit Gupta, co-founder of Buddhimed, a healthcare startup in Bangalore. He owns and drives a Tata Nexon EV. Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. The episode was co-edited by Abhishek Madan (https://twitter.com/abhishekmadan). Intro and outro music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Get in touch via Twitter, or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Episode music: Interlude music by George-Sundancer (https://pixabay.com/users/george-sundancer-13627126/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=2498), TattooedPreacher (https://pixabay.com/users/tattooedpreacher-21039356/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=4886) and Zen_Man (https://pixabay.com/users/zen_man-4257870/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=3058) from Pixabay. Episode artwork: Image by Pixaline (https://pixabay.com/users/pixaline-1569622/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2545290) from Pixabay Further reading and transcript: Head over to the website: https://imaginedtomorrow.com/ (http://imaginedtomorrow.com/)

18. 

    4 Jun 2021

    S1E1 Personalised medicine for your genes

    In this episode, we imagine a future where medical decisions in India are personalised for our DNA; where treatments are tailor-made for our individual genetic makeup. Why? Because not everyone responds in the same way to any given medical treatment. A painkiller that seems to work for your friend, might not work for you. An anti-diabetic medication that works for your father, might not work for your mother. As researchers are finding out, our genes could hold the answer. Our individual genetic makeup can have a role to play in what diseases we develop; how our bodies metabolise medicines; and what treatments work or don't work for us. If we know how and which genes influence our health, can we develop treatments to target those genes? Do we even know enough about genetic variations within Indian populations and how these variations relate to different diseases or disorders? And can we harness this knowledge to find personalised treatments in the near future? Read the episode transcript here (https://www.imaginedtomorrow.com/post/s1-e1-a-future-where-medical-treatment-is-personalised-for-your-genes). Imagined Tomorrow is created and hosted by Shreya Dasgupta. The episode was co-edited by Abhishek Madan. Intro and outdo music is by Abhijit Shylanath (https://twitter.com/htedum?lang=en). Get in touch via Twitter (https://twitter.com/ShreyaDasgupta), or email imagined.tomorrow@gmail.com. Guests: Shambhavi Ravishankar (https://ordindia.in/about-us/our-team/patient-advocacy-leaders/) is a lawyer who lives with a rare genetic disease called Alagille Syndrome. She's an associate at Ikigai Law. Berty Ashley (https://dartindia.in/the-team/) is a molecular geneticist at Dystrophy Annihilation Research Trust (DART) who loves music and science. Anu Acharya (https://mapmygenome.in/directors/) is the founder and CEO of Ocimum Bio Solutions, and Mapmygenome, a personal genomics company. Dr. Bhawna Sirohi (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bhawna-sirohi-092360200/?originalSubdomain=in) is a cancer specialist with expertise in breast and gastrointestinal cancers at the Apollo Proton Cancer Centre in Chennai Episode music: Interlude music by 1tamara2 (https://pixabay.com/users/1tamara2-15516491/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=4328), enrique27naveda (https://pixabay.com/users/enrique27naveda-18269152/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=1502) and Zen_Man (https://pixabay.com/users/zen_man-4257870/?tab=audio&utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=audio&utm_content=3058) from Pixabay Episode artwork: Image by Gordon Johnson (https://pixabay.com/users/gdj-1086657/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=2730779) from Pixabay

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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

22 ratings

Contact Imagined Tomorrow

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.